Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (48)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Synopsis:
Happily ever after is a thing of the past.

The year is 2090.

England is a barren land. Food is rationed. Oil has decimated the oceans. The people are restless.

A ruthless revolutionary enacts a plan to destroy the royal family, and in a moment, the king is dead. His heiress, Princess Mary, and her brother, Jamie, have been abducted, and no one knows their fate. Princess Eliza Windsor barely escapes, and finds herself scared and lost in London's dangerous streets.

With a mind for revenge and the safe recovery of her siblings, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. There she is tempted by her first taste of independence -- and true love. Ultimately she must summon her courage and fight to ensure that she does not become... The Last Princess.


Why I'm Excited:
The cover is gorgeous and the story sounds exciting!!


Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally 
December 1, 2011
Sourcebooks Fire

Synopsis:
What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

My Review:
CATCHING JORDAN is one of those books that will surely stick with you long after you finish it. I am still in awe of how fantastic and honest CATCHING JORDAN is. I loved everything about this book and have absolutely zero complaints. Okay, well, maybe one: I was not happy when it was over! I need more, more, more! CATCHING JORDAN is by far my favorite read of the year!

This is pretty big of me to say, but Jordan is my favorite heroine that I have ever read about in YA. She is honest, sarcastic, and not afraid to hang with the boys. Heck, she even prefers to be with them. She is so special in the fact that she is the quarter back of her high school football team, and the guys on the team actually respect her. I adore her for not turning her back on football, even though her dad disapproves of her playing. She wants so much for him to respect her as a player.

I may also consider her my favorite heroine because of the guys that she is surrounded by. JJ, Carter, Ty, Henry, I love all of them so much! Each one is swoon-worthy and they all care for Jordan in different ways. Their banter with each other and their interactions on the field and off it make for a phenomenal story.

Now, let's talk about Ty. He had me from the moment he walked on the scene. The way Jordan describes him just makes me want to faint every time I think about it. Oh, and did I mention that he isn't a complete jerk? He is such a sweetheart and has some serious issues at home that makeyou hurt for him.

My absolute favorite guy though, no matter how much I adored Ty, is definitely Henry. He has been Jordan's best friend since they were little and they do everything together. He is such a funny guy and a flirt, but he has a softer side that will turn you to putty! And did I mention how yummy he is?? Oh my goodness give me an ice pack now; I need to cool down just thinking about him!! Miranda, may I please have Henry? Pretty please with whipped cream on top?

I could go on and on about the boys, but now it is time to get down to the romance. Kenneally knows how to create some serious chemistry between characters. WOW. Just wow. That is all I have to say about it. Oh, and did I mention that Keneally shocked me with where she went with it? I did not see it coming until BAM it was revealed and changed the whole dynamic of the story. You just have to read it to find out what I am talking about.

CATCHING JORDAN is an exciting and fresh YA contemporary debut that had me going. I need more from Keneally NOW! She has proven herself to be a fantastic author and her next books will be auto-buys for me.

My Rating:

Monday, November 28, 2011

Interview with Jus Accardo

Today I have an interview with author of Touch, Jus Accardo. Thanks for coming on the blog!

1. What inspires you to write?
 
Anything, really. A trip to the coffee place down the road can inspire
something. Ideas are everywhere--we just need to look. Music is the
biggie, too. If I'm stuck on something, or if a scene or character is
falling flat, I flip on my Zune, and BOOM.

2. What were your thoughts the first time you saw the cover for TOUCH?
 
Who IS that? ;) (then, holy crap... that's MY name on the cover...)

3. What were your favorite books as a teen?
 
I loved anything by S.E Hinton, and Mary Stanton's The Heavenly Horse
from the Outermost West, I must have read a thousand times... And L.J
Smith? I was obsessed.

4. Describe TOUCH in three words. 
 
 Secrets, romance, and action I think are the best.

5. What would your dad have done if you had brought a strange boy home?
 
I'm not really sure... At Dez's age, there was no way I would have done
something like that. He probably would have popped a blood vessel or four,
though. My parents weren't strict, but I think that would have been a line
in the sand!

About the Author:

Jus Accardo is the author of YA paranormal romance and urban fantasy
fiction. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her
husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald. Her first book,
Touch, is due out in November 2011 from Entangled Publishing. She is
represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.



When a strange boy
tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet,
seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the
opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie
with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the
shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts
like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father
shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should,
that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law
firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization
devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as
weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two
team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen
before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of
all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.
 
Buy: 
Amazon

Barnes & Noble
 
More Info: 
Website
Blog

Saturday, November 26, 2011

In My Mailbox (43)

 
For Review: 
Slide by Jill Hathaway
The Partials by Dan Wells
Balthazar by Claudia Gray
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally


Bought:
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles


Thanks to:
HarperTeen
Sourcebooks
My Mom

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!!


Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all my wonderful blogger friends and readers of my blog. =) You are all so awesome!! I hope the day is full of good food, family, and friends. Make sure to read a good book!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (47)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti
March 6, 2012
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Synopsis:
Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?


Why I'm Excited:
A romance and mystery? I'm sold!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

New YA Book Releases: November 22, 2011

Saving June by Hannah Harrington
Harlequin Teen

When her older sister commits suicide and her divorcing parents decide to divide the ashes, Harper Scott takes her sister's urn to the one place June always wanted to go: California. On the road with her best friend, plus an intriguing guy with a mysterious connection to June, Harper discovers truths about her sister, herself and life.










In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton
Clarion Books


The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.


The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Razorbill


It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.

Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.





Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night—welcome to Wolf Springs.



Monday, November 21, 2011

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

November 15, 2011
HarperTeen

Synopsis:
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.


My Review:
SHATTER ME is a one of a kind novel that truly inspired me. Mafi has concocted a novel that has me wanting to shout to the world about it! Her writing is so powerful and awe-inspiring; it weaves a hypnotizing web around you so you become so thoroughly involved that you can't pull yourself away. I just barely got a taste of Mafi's writing, but I am addicted! More, please??

Juliette makes me want to be a better person. Her life is completely miserable; her parents treated her horribly and never truly cared for her. No one ever understood her, and they shunned her because of her gift. All she wants to do is be loved and will do anything for it. Her compassion pours from the pages, and her loneliness is palpable. There were so many times that I just wanted to climb into the book and give her a big hug. She suffers so much, yet never turns her back on the world.

Adam, Adam, Adam. He makes me so giddy! Juliette is one lucky girl. He is the only one who ever understood her. Juliette's feelings for him are raw and oh-so powerful. Adam lights up her life and gives her hope that she has never felt before. His story is just as heartbreaking as Juliette's and I felt beyond happy that they found one another.

SHATTER ME is, for lack of a better word, spectacular. It blends dystopian and paranormal elements to create a fascinating and thought-provoking story that refuses to let you loose. The sequel can't be released fast enough!

My Rating:

Sunday, November 20, 2011

In My Mailbox (42)

 
For Review:
Forbidden by Syrie James and Ryan M. James
Angelina's Secret by Lisa Rogers
Touch by Jus Accardo


For Tour:
Slide by Jill Hathaway

Thanks to:
HarperTeen
Spencer Hill Press
Entangled Publishing
The Teen Book Scene


Friday, November 18, 2011

Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

October 25, 2011
Harlequin Teen

Synopsis:
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.


My Review:
Julie Kagawa has done it again with THE IRON KNIGHT. Full of action, surprises, and fey lore, THE IRON KNIGHT will have your emotions going on a roller coaster ride. I cannot get over how perfect this one was. Being a huge fan of Ash, I was beyond excited when I heard there would be a story from his point of view. Finally I get to understand his motivations and see things through his eyes. Ash is a very complex character who experiences many trials and shocking twists. You are sure in for a great time with this one. But make sure to have tissues by your side--you'll need them.

My goodness I love Ash. He gives me butterflies and makes me want a guy just like him. Of course, that isn't possible but a girl can dream. Honestly, I am going to say that THE IRON KNIGHT is my favorite book of the series, and that is saying something. For some reason, I don't usually enjoy myself as much when I read from a guy's perspective. I guess I don't really understand where they're coming from. Kagawa really outdid herself with this one though. I reveled in Ash's story and gobbled up everything he felt, said, did.

Even though this one is from Ash's point of view, there is still plenty of Puck for those Team Puck girls. He never fails to make me laugh! The moments between him and Ash are sad, heartbreaking, and yet hilarious at the same time. There is so much history between these two, making their relationship that much more complicated. Before this novel, I will admit that I didn't feel much for Puck. But after THE IRON KNIGHT, I finally understand him and I came to love the person he was. I am so glad Ash has him by his side, even if Ash won't admit how helpful he is.

Kagawa wrapped this story up so perfectly that I couldn't stop smiling. Meghan, Ash, and Puck have come such a long way to get to this point in their story. I can guarantee that you will be satisfied. Now all I have to ask for is more from Kagawa. She has proved herself to be an outstanding author and I will be anticipating more from her.

My Rating:

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Review: Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

October 4, 2011
HarperTeen

Synopsis:
Their love was meant to be.
When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.
But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.


My Review:
I am no fan of insta-love, as you all probably know from the majority of my reviews. The synopsis in CARRIER OF THE MARK hints at such love, but I stayed optimistic going in. I was really enjoying myself until about 100 pages in when the storyline plummets.

Sure, the lore about the Carrier of the Mark is interesting, but the insta-love did me in. And when I say insta-love, I mean BOOM--one second they are just staring, making googly eyes at each other, then the next they confess their love. I am sorry, but no matter what kind of chemistry you may be feeling around a person, a declaration of love is not going to happen without so much as a few weeks of getting to know each other. Yes, they did meet a few weeks prior, but they never actually had a conversation with each other!

I truly liked who Megan was, and thought she was a strong and courageous girl for the first 100 pages. But when she confesses to Adam so suddenly, I lost all respect for her. Things just went downhill from there. She becomes a gooey mess after spending so much time with Adam and finding out about her powers. I really, really wish I could have understood where she was coming from, but sadly I didn't.

Adam was awesome in the beginning! I was so curious as to why he acted so strange around Megan, and why he had to steer clear of her.  But then he goes and ruins all that has been building up between them by telling Megan about how drawn he is to her; how he can't stand to be out of her sight. I was so upset about this that it took all of my mental strength to continue on.

I feel awful that I didn't like CARRIER OF THE MARK. I know quite a few people who just adored it, so I was hoping I would feel the same way. Maybe if it wasn't for my aversion to insta-love, I could have enjoyed it much more. The lore was truly fascinating and I gobbled up everything about it. I wish that would have been the real focus of the story, rather than the" love story" between Megan and Adam. If I were you, I would pick this one up at the library instead of purchasing it. If you love it, great! And if you don't, at least you didn't lose your money.

My Rating:

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

New YA Book Releases: November 15, 2011

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
HarperTeen

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.


The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Simon & Schuster

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.
 

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff
Razorbill

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.
 

Dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman
Harlequin

A friend posted a video of me dancing online, and now I’m no longer Alicia Ruffino. I’m dancergirl. And suddenly it’s like me against the world—everyone’s got opinions.

My admirers want more, the haters hate, my best friend Jacy—even he’s acting weird. And some stalker isn’t content to just watch anymore.

Ali. dancergirl. Whatever you know me as, however you’ve seen me online, I’ve trained my whole life to be the best dancer I can be. But if someone watching has their way, I could lose way more than just my love of dancing. I could lose my life.
 


Wherever You Go by Heather Davis
Harcourt

Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend?
     As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?
     Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob,Wherever You Go is is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light.
 

Death Watch by Ari Berk
Simon & Schuster


They say the dead should rest in peace. Not all the dead agree.
One night, Silas Umber's father Amos doesn’t come home from work. Devastated, Silas learns that his father was no mere mortician but an Undertaker, charged with bringing The Peace to the dead trapped in the Shadowlands, the states of limbo binding spirits to earth. With Amos gone, Silas and his mother have no choice but to return to Lichport, the crumbling seaside town where Silas was born, and move in with Amos’s brother, Charles.
Even as Silas eagerly explores his father’s town and its many abandoned streets and overgrown cemeteries, he grows increasingly wary of his uncle. There is something not quite right going on in Charles Umber’s ornate, museum-like house—something, Silas is sure, that is connected to his father’s disappearance. When Silas’s search leads him to his father’s old office, he comes across a powerful artifact: the Death Watch, a four hundred year old Hadean clock that allows the owner to see the dead.
Death Watch in hand, Silas begins to unearth Lichport’s secret history—and discovers that he has taken on his father’s mantle as Lichport’s Undertaker. Now, Silas must embark on a dangerous path into the Shadowlands to embrace his destiny and discover the truth about his father—no matter the cost.



Monday, November 14, 2011

Author of The Sharp Time, Mary O'Connell Interview



Mary O'Connell is stopping by for a special interview today. She is sharing her answers in Haiku form. Cool, right??

How long have you been writing?

My oldest daughter,
Now older than when this girl 
Picked up the pencil.


What is your writing schedule?

Sleep! What? When? Why? No!
The house is lit and quiet
Computer is on.

3. Who is your favorite YA author?


Judy Blume, JD
Salinger I love you so
And Sherman Alexie

4. What was your favorite book when you were a teen?


Catcher in the Rye
Holden Caulfield, Manhattan
A new world for us.

5. Describe The Sharp Time in three words.

Uncensored, questioning, redemptive

Thanks for hosting me on your blog, Bailey!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

In My Mailbox (41)

For Review:
Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Winging It by Deborah Cooke

Swag:
Cinder Mirror (So cool!!)

Thanks to:
HarperTeen
Penguin
Macmillan

Friday, November 11, 2011

Review: Past Perfect by Leila Sales

October 4, 2011
Simon Pulse

Synopsis:
All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.
Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….


My Review:
PAST PERFECT is a delightfully adorable YA read that I highly enjoyed! Sales has crafted a novel that will make you smile from ear to ear! I have been reading so many dark and depressing novels lately, and though I do like them for different reasons, I really needed a light and fluffy read. I just cannot get over how cute this one was, and it wasn't at all cheesy. Sales' protagonist Chelsea is a breath of fresh air and her world is weird, quirky, and just a tad complicated.

Chelsea has been working at Essex since forever because of her parents who are stuck in the past. Every thing they do at the Colonial village is authentic and made to give the visitors a look inside of the past. Chelsea is done with it though. She doesn't want to work there anymore, but that doesn't stop her from getting dragged there for another summer full of wars with the Civil War re enactors, crazy tourists, and a little bit of new found love that Chelsea wasn't at all expecting.

Chelsea was absolutely adorable. Her comments are so snarky and honest that I couldn't help but love her. The relationship she has with her dad made me giggle! He always seems to be annoying her, and I could see why she didn't want to have to work another summer right alongside him. And then there is the fact that even though she doesn't want to work at Essex for another summer, it has such a huge role in her life.

The war with the Civil War soldiers is hilarious! Everyone takes it so seriously and the pranks they play on each other are absolutely ridiculous. The war made the book and it wouldn't have been the same without it, especially considering that Chelsea may or may not have fallen for one of the Civil War re enactors!!

PAST PERFECT is the perfect read (get it?) for those who are looking for something not so heavy and funny. While the story isn't so complex, I couldn't help but loving it and I cannot wait for more from Sales.

My Rating:

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Review: Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook

January 3, 2012
Simon Pulse

Synopsis:
Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother.
But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.


My Review:
Ever since I first laid eyes on this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! The cover is adorable and the title fits perfectly. The synopsis grabbed me from the start! Hunky new step-brother and ghosts? I'm in! I am happy to say that after completing the novel, I was pleased. It has just the right amount of drama, romance, and mystery to keep the reader engaged but not overwhelmed. And the best part is that it is a stand alone! Yay for a nicely wrapped up ending!

Isobel has her fair share of problems coming into the story. Her dad has Schizophrenia, her mom married some guy she just met off the Internet, and she is forced to leave her only home and high school during her senior year. Talk about a horrible situation. And when she starts hearing noises and seeing the ghost of a haunted looking girl, she fears that she has inherited her father's Schizophrenia. Even worse is that she seems to be falling for her step-brother Nate, which is a total no-no.

I felt beyond awful for Isobel. Her step-dad Richard, or as she likes to call him, Dick, is a total creeper. I don't know how she handled living in a house with him. I would have gone insane! And the fact that her mother is so immature and selfish made me so upset! Isobel has such a tough life, but I love how she didn't let it get to her too much. And did I mention how annoying her step-dad was? Props to Isobel for not doing anything drastic to him! I would have had a hard time holding back.

Isobel's relationship with Nate is so sweet. At first, Nate is very cold and aloof, but Isobel is slowly able to pull back the layers and see that Nate is pretty amazing. I just loved every scene they had together. Their moments with each other range from hilarious to down-right steamy! Cook knows how to write a good romance.

UNRAVELING ISOBEL is a great paranormal contemporary novel that YA readers will enjoy. I can't wait for more from Cook!

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